Sinai fights stigma with patience and love. According to a police report filed in 2000, Joanna said Robinson sexually assaulted her eight times over the course of the summer. Hylton Wener, NJY Camps Say hello 1 High Ridge Park, Stamford, CT 06905 Phone: 203-399-5414 Phone . June 19, 2023. Specifically, I mean the demographic. Jim Levi is the newest member of the Starting Hearts Board of Directors. He stomped on my soul, and I was left to pick up the pieces.. For 100 years, our NJY camps have been creating lasting friendships, positive Jewish experiences, and summers of fun, said board president Stephen Seiden in an email to camp families, alumnae, and donors. Assistant Food Service Director (Former Employee) - Milford, PA - December 11, 2018. Does life have any meaning ifit all ends in death? Or even Pauline Chernichaw of Englewood Cliffs talks about art, family history, and life, No room for indifference in the fight against antisemitism, Rabbis, Rep. 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The independent investigation, conducted by the law firm McCusker, Anselmi, Rosen & Carvelli, P.C. whose dedication and service. She spoke exclusively to NJJN after the paper first published a report of allegations against Robinson. Unlike other news outlets, we havent put up a paywall. Many thanks to CEO Michael Schlank, & the leadership & staff of NJY Camps for their yeoman efforts to create a wonderful experience for our campers and their families during Summer 2021 and all year round! What is life? Len has been Executive Director at the NJY Camps since 1993. . An opportunity for your camper to meet potential bunkmates for future summers! On Friday, Athletic Director Michael Alford made the first public case for the Seminoles to find a new conference during a General Board Meeting with the FSU Board of Trustees, which included . Co-Ed Modern Orthodox Grades 3 - 10. To Our NJY Camps Community, I am excited to share with you that after a nationwide search, the NJY Camps Board of Directors named Michael Schlank to the newly created position of chief executive officer. The Jewish Week obtained a copy of recommendations the investigators suggested in order to overhaul NJY Camps governance. More than fifty years ago, my father asked my mother to marry him on a day off they shared while working at a Jewish sleepaway camp, a camp they eventually went on to lead for nearly a decade. Abuse prevention policies and reassessments are on hold until the new leadership assumes responsibilities, expected to take place this month. . Do you wish you belong to any of those previously mentioned demographics? NJJN managing editor Shira Vickar-Fox contributed reporting. To implement these changes, the organization will appoint a transitional board for roughly one year with the intent of handing off responsibility to a durable governing board as early as January of 2020, according to the organizations Feb. 7 statement. (Photo illustration by Janice hwang). At the time, she was 42 and a separated mother of two. NJY Camps is comprised of five children's Jewish overnight camps and travel programs. Oct 2019 - Feb 20233 years 5 months. Robinson was forced to resign in April 2018 from his position at NJY Camps, which operates various Jewish summer camps, after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced. As we prepare for this new chapter, we want to take a moment to thank our interim executive director, Janet Warm Fliegelman. NJY Camps is a partner agency of the MetroWest federation. 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(MARC), was completed in September 2018. Phone: (973) 575-3333 Well, I am old, and my kids are old, so yeshiva week is just a reminder that I am too old to have kids who are still in yeshiva. Why didnt his obituaries say so? Sign in to stop seeing this, Sara Netanyahu accosted by protesters at Tel Aviv hair salon, extricated by police, Brides joy turns to sorrow after Elan Ganeles killed driving to her wedding, Hiker discovers 2,500-year-old ancient receipt from reign of Purim kings father, Netanyahu compares Tel Aviv protesters to settlers who set fire to Huwara. First Step at Camp Nah-Jee-Wah. The entire board of a Jewish camps association in New Jersey voted to suspend itself, in the wake of an investigation finding that it had failed to address the predatory behavior of its former executive director. August 15, 2023. In that role, Michael will lead our professional staff and oversee all of NJY Camps operations. Nurturing and caring counselors that assist your child throughout their entire stay! But a JCCA employee, who asked for anonymity for fear of reprisal, told The Jewish Week last year that complaints about Robinson being verbally abusive were brought to the JCCAs attention but disregarded. Soon after the story was published, she revealed that the unnamed individual was Robinson when he served as a supervisor at a JCC on the West Coast. Doron Krakow, president and CEO of JCC Association of North America, said in a statement that he is honored to help assist NJY Camps through what has been a difficult period. The investigators report is a shameful, damning, heart-breaking and miserable study in leadership failure, Ben-Shimon wrote to his board of trustees and senior management in an internal memo last week. Last year, Robinson was forced to resign from his position as executive director last April, a day before The Jewish Weeks initial story was published. Meanwhile, the Essex County Prosecutors Office confirmed that it is reviewing materials related to other allegations that have arisen against Robinson and NJY Camps handling of the matter. Office: Cedar Lake Camp 21 Plymouth St. Fairfield, NJ 07004 - (973) 575-3333 Camp: Cedar Lake Camp 570 Sawkill Road Milford , PA 18337 - (570) 296-8596 Email: clc@njycamps.org 2023 jewish telegraphic agency all rights reserved. Though the detective bureau began investigating the matter at the time, the criminal statute of limitations had expired and Joanna did not wish to pursue the matter, according to the report. Email: nesher@njycamps.org |. Advertisement. The vision of NJY is to unite individuals in a globally supportive community. It has been the single most formative experience in their lives, and it has been the lynchpin in their deep connection to their Jewish identity. What is life? Comprising five overnight summer camps, NJY serves children of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. I am excited to share with you that after a nationwide search, the NJY Camps Board of Directors named Michael Schlank to the newly created position of chief executive officer. Crooks, a Member of the Order of Canada (CM), is a five-time Olympian (Athletics), a former Member of the International Olympic Committee, an award-winning business leader, an entrepreneur, a corporate director (non-profit and public Boards), a technology advisor and a . Under the supervision of the Teen Programs Director and the NJY full-time Mental Health professional, the MESSH professional is responsible for the development . Michael will assume this new role on September 1, 2020. L'Dor V'Dor Society. Does life have any meaning ifit all ends in death? It allows them to maintain control., NJY Camps said in a statement that the organization is working aggressively to reinvent itself in the aftermath of Robinsons removal and the entire boards resignation earlier this year. Regarding the NJY boards decision to disband, Ben-Shimon told NJJN, We are deeply grateful to the leadership of NJY in its new formulation and have faith in their abilities to lead the camp forward to greater success. Its up to thee! Richard Belzer was a Jewish comedian. Schlank will assume his new role Sept. 1. (NJY Camps via JTA). Goldner previously told NJJN that she reported the incident to the former president of NJY Camps, who dismissed the allegation and declined to investigate the matter further. A long-time member of our staff as the chief operating officer, she stepped up to lead the organization through our 2018 and 2019 seasons with great success. Amy, whose story was included in the investigative report commissioned by NJY Camps last year, is further alleging that she was subjected to retaliation by NJY Camps for participating in the investigation and disclosing that she had been sexually assaulted by Robinson, according to her attorney, Richard Swartz. She remained at the camp, but refused to be alone with Robinson going forward. In December, Dov Ben-Shimon, executive vice president and CEO of Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, called for the resignation of the entire 60-member board of NJY Camps after viewing the report, according to an NJJN story. With a sexual abuse scandal that forced out its longtime executive director, the camp, sponsored by two New Jersey Jewish federations, will now find out whether more recent developments will mean a healthy housecleaning or a debilitating lack of leadership. Neither Krakow, who took up his post as president and CEO of JCCA in 2017, nor his immediate predecessor, Stephen Arnoff, said they received any complaints about Robinson. We are an incubator, HaZamir chapters rehearsing for 30th anniversary gala performance at Lincoln Center, The Belarusian-born educator from Morristown and Randolph was 92, Hearing the Gettysburg Address in Hebrew again. If so, please join The Times of Israel Community. urged all 60 members of his board to join him in resigning, Already a member? He does so during one of the most turbulent times in camping. Senior Accounting Manager Location: Fairfield, NJ About NJY Camps: NJY Camps (NJY) is one of North America s premier Jewish summer camp organizations. Free Sign Up. NJY Camps Board of Directors. $180 for a full weekend of fun at Camp Nah Jee Wah! Milford, Pennsylvania Camp Counselor and Tennis Coach at Cedar Lake Camp. A copy of the memo was obtained by NJJN. NEW! A person Wiesenthal Centers program puts students in government offices, Rabbi Moshe Josef Rubin talks about his family history and looks forward, We are more than a choir. "We are very excited to welcome chief Levi to our board," said Alan Himelfarb, executive director of Starting Hearts, in a news release. 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Joanna reported the incidents of sexual assault to the Ramsey Police Department when she was 23. To implement these changes, the organization will appoint a transitional board for roughly one year with the intent of handing off responsibility to a durable governing board as early as January of 2020, according to the organizations Feb. 7 statement. A new parent? . But a JCCA employee, who asked for anonymity for fear of reprisal, told NJJN last year that complaints about Robinson being verbally abusive were brought to the JCCAs attention but disregarded. We are seeking an energetic and dynamic Summer Camp Co-Director. click the link in that email to complete your registration. Tucker has declined repeated requests for comment. Iam pretty sure that I wrote a column about self-care at some point during the pandemic. Position Summary: NJY Teen Camp (TAC) is seeking an energetic, creative, and passionate leader to serve as our camp's Mental Health Professional. Could the government cancel elections? 28 days ago. Her extraordinary leadership has seen us through the past few years, which were full of challenges and hard decisions. Get New Jersey Jewish News's Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories NJJN obtained a copy of recommendations the investigators suggested in order to overhaul NJY Camps governance. According to the story, top board leadership was made aware of Robinsons inappropriate behavior during his tenure, but failed to act. Do you wish you belong to any of those previously mentioned demographics? What happens to the notes placed in the Kotel? Life is waking up every morning and being grateful that you can get out of bed and walk to the bathroom unassisted. Free Sign Up, In his letter, Seiden cited the cancellation of in-person camps for the 2020 season due to the realities of the pandemic. Looking to the future, he called Schlank a passionate believer in camping and said his background gives us confidence that he will lead us through the challenges ahead.. Once registered, youll receive our Daily Edition email for free. Hannah Dreyfus is a staff writer for The New York Jewish Week. NJY Camps attorneys entered into good faith conversations with that individuals counsel and ultimately reached a settlement to address her allegations, Horowitz wrote. Fairfield, PA, USA, Milford, PA, USA. Via NJYcamps.org. and Robert Tucker. The camp network is trying to pick up the pieces after abuse allegations. Joanna who requested that her full name not be used to protect her privacy was 17 and working at the library of Camp Nah-Jee-Wah during the summer of 1994 when Robinson first sexually assaulted her, she claimed. Theketubah(marriage contract) that hangs on our living room wall is a painting of camps waterfront. In 1968, another 1130 acres, and two lakes, were purchased in Lake Como, Pennsylvania. Leadership at NJY Camps continues to decline The Jewish Weeks requests to disclose the full report, citing the confidentiality of women who have made allegations, according to an NJY Camps spokesperson. Ihave no idea who reads this column. Email Us. The investigators' report "is a shameful, damning, heart-breaking and miserable study in leadership failure . We dont comment on personnel matters.. I had to make sure this couldnt happen to another camper, she said. A spokesperson said that until then the camping network is following all the necessary procedures called for by our bylaws.. (JTA) The entire board of a Jewish camps association in New Jersey voted to suspend itself, in the wake of an investigation finding that it had failed to address the predatory behavior of its former executive director. NJY Camps Jun 2015 - Sep 2016 1 year 4 months. Phone: (570) 798-2373 | The NJY Camps is governed by a Board of Directors, which includes JCC representatives, regional leaders, former campers and other friends. NJY HOME; PIX HOME; E-MAIL A CAMPER; FAMILY WEEKENDS; ARCHIVES; Archives. I look forward to getting to know you in the coming weeks and months. We are determining if there is basis for a criminal investigation, a spokesperson from the Prosecutors Office told NJJN on April 8. NJY Camps is the umbrella group for five residential . In an email statement, Horowitz wrote that NJY Camps was first approached in July of 2018 by the legal counsel of one of the victims of Robinsons abuse seeking a financial settlement.. He replaces interim executive director Janet Warm Fliegelman, who took the helm of the organization following the forced resignation in 2018 of Leonard Len Robinson, who faced multiple accusations of sexual harassment. Michael is a longtime active member of the New York Jewish community: sitting on the board of Hofstra Hillel, as president of his synagogue, and as a member of the AIPAC Long Island Council. We are grateful to Janet for guiding NJY Camps through troubled waters these past few years and always putting the needs of the camp community first. NJY Camps, a Jewish camping association in New Jersey, announced on Feb. 7 that its board of directors voted unanimously to suspend itself after an independent investigation found that Leonard Len Robinson, the 74-year-old former executive director of the organization, had sexually abused or harassed at least 11 women during his 25-year tenure as NJYs top executive. We believe that teenagers at high school level are looking for summer experiences that will challenge them, provide them with a sense of ownership and an opportunity to make incredible connections. Find out what works well at NJY Camps from the people who know best. Camp Nah-Jee-Wah for 8-11 year olds, Cedar Lake Camp for 11-14 year olds, Teen Camp for 14-16 year olds, Round Lake Camp for children with special needs and Club Enjoy for short term camping programs. Our camps are accredited by the American Camping Association, and we are an affiliate of the Foundation for Jewish Camp. Incorrect password. Ten months after the executive director of the largest camping organization in North America was forced to resign due to allegations of sexual harassment that stretched back years, the organizations entire board has voted to disband. Are you a bitter person? As for the meaning of life? 1391 Martine Avenue. Reached by NJJN last week, Robinson declined to comment. Once registered, youll receive our Daily Edition email for free. As Israel implodes, does nobody in Netanyahus Likud have the guts to defy him? Life is good, life is bad, life is surprising, life is challenging. Get New Jersey Jewish News's Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories, The New Jersey Jewish Film Festival returns to the JCC MetroWest, Kosher-chef-whiz-kid Eitan Bernath turns to social action as he works to feed the hungry, Local production,as in New York, takeson the Leo Frank story. Marci Hamilton, a national expert on child abuse prevention and CEO of Child USA, said it is very common for young victims of sexual assault to re-engage with the alleged offender. After seeing the report which detailed at least 11 cases in which Robinson sexually harassed, assaulted, or bribed female staff members in exchange for their silence federation leadership called upon the NJY board to resign, among other recommendations. Email: campinfo@njycamps.org, Lake Como Campus: 90 Woods Road Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. Thats why we started the Times of Israel ten years ago - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world. According to the camps most recent tax filings, his 2016 salary was just short of $500,000. 2020-09-01. An independent investigation into the allegations was completed in September, The Jewish Week reports, but its conclusions only became public when the head of a large New Jersey Jewish federation read the report and called on the entire 60-member board of NJY Camps to resign. ), I felt paralyzed, she told NJJN. Round Lake. Robinson, 73, served as executive director of NJY Camps, the largest Jewish camp complex in North America, for 25 years, and he was celebrated and received many communal honors. Loving memory of David Lenusky. 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The alleged assaults continued during the fall of 1994, when Robinson continued to call and visit Joannas home to solicit sex, according to police records. Summer camp is truly embedded in my DNA and an integral part of my own family history. H ours after NJJN published a report in which New Jersey federation executives called for the entire board of NJY Camps to resign for not taking action after learning of allegations of predatory behavior by its former executive director ("After damning probe, NJ fed exec urges board purge at NJY Camps," Dec. 20), the president of the NJY board announced his intention to resign, and advised .